The dealer (Stampede has 3). Gray and dark red V6s and a black GT. I drove the GT.

General impressions:

The red is quite 'flat'. It hardly even looks like a metallic. Too bad.

Pros: For the $30k that USA GTs started at that is one heck of a deal! The Canadian car is $41k. Still less than the 2008 GP GXP. Good luck clearing those out Pontiac.

I liked the seats. I'm average size. They felt very comfy but not real close fitting for twisties. The lack of passenger power is not great. Seat heaters are excellent. It was 9C / 48F.

Steering was easy to adjust and get comfortable. If you share the G8 with a spouse there is no memory setting.

Outward visibility not great. A-Pillar is thick and mirrors are small.

Trunk is huge but OnStar and XM boxes hang down and cut into vertical storage. Like the net. I use mine on my G35.

Dash is well laid out but looks and feels sort of cheap. There were NO center console upper digital gauges. I guess that's a 2009 change?

Stereo excellent. Love the XM.

Climate controls excellent but no heated outside mirrors.

Wipers very good. It was pouring so I had them on. Delay controls so-so.

Driving Impressions

Ride very comfortable and quiet. Not as tight on the off ramp as the G35. Brakes felt easy to modulate. Liked the steering weight. Feels like a nice tight but full size car. Not unlike my 2000 GTP.

Then you get on the loud pedal. :driving: Yeah baby! That sucker has stones and sounds good when you tromp it.

So am I sold? No, not really but then again a CTS is slower and $20k more.